Gota Go Gama, One Galle Face and the country’s Youth

GGG brought the whole nation under a single flag within less than a month. Facebook posted that GGG is developing faster than the Sri Lankan economy

“Country is facing one of the most difficult and challenging economic, political and socially decisive times in its history …… Government has erred by banning use of chemical fertilizer and not going for a program with IMF earlier”…..These are not my words. 

These are the sentiments echoing at Gota Go Gama (GGG) but spoken by the President himself when addressing the new Cabinet on April 18th. GGG residents say that the incumbent President has failed and he should go. President says I have failed but would not go. 

The very same President, exactly one year ago boasted that we are the first nation in the whole universe to convert the entire agriculture organic.

The most peaceful farming community (parents of GGG youth) that never resorted to protest and was branded by Robert Knox -1681 as fit enough to be a king has been drawn off their field onto the highways. Their cry was not heard; their agony was not seen. They were ridiculed for being instigated by the NGOs, extreme political parties or a bottle of arrack. 

We must get the youth involved prominently as partners of the nation building with a system change. If we do not take the advantage of what was gained by GGG we might be the losers

The President with the backing of 6.9 million voters, two third Parliamentary majority, 20th amendment to the constitution and being the Commander in Chief took one whole year to realize his trial and error ruling was wrong. A medical doctor, a dentist and a robed MP were among those advised him on the merits of organic agriculture. They made sure that the King would not hear the far cry made by farmers, agriculture experts and practitioners. King was taken naked on parade by these drummers and whips crackers and is left alone to face the music. 

Now the farmers are tired and their children have taken the baton. They tried to communicate the message in different forms and finally colonized the One Gall Face Green and renamed it GGG. No visible single leader; no visible political color. GGG is occupied by determined creative passionate tamed well disciplined youth. While the President and his Government is deaf and dumb, opposition is fighting among themselves rather than the common enemy. Not a single Opposition party is happy to oust “Gota” as they are not sure who among them will pick the fruit fallen off the collective effort. 

GGG is open for anyone but politicians. Several political parties have put the pot to sense the response of GGG residents but returned with the smashed pot. Their sole request is Gota go home with Rajapaksa family, and retire entire Parliament with rotten, old 225 members.  

With a divided Opposition, impeachment is out of the question. The only option left is reconciliation; reaching consensus

Youth opening eyes
The Nation displays its gratitude to the youth for opening eyes of those who were in a slumber. Irrespective of colour, creed, cast, race, rank and file they have become one family of GGG. Every successive government divided the nation for 74 years. GGG brought the whole nation under a single flag within less than a month. 

Facebook posted that GGG is developing faster than the Sri Lankan economy. GGG does not have access to electricity, water, telecommunication and sanitary facilities. But, they generate renewable solar energy failed by CEB engineers for several generations. They displayed their creativity with a Presidential Secretariat illuminated with sound and light; when it was blocked they lifted the banner high up 
with laser beam. 

GGG demonstrates a great deal of dynamism, determination, creativity, resilience, discipline, patience, and vigour. It is extended to Myna Gama, Hora Go Gama and several regional and international branches.

People of all walk and from all corners visit GGG with their children. GGG created a nonpolitical nonpartisans stage for anyone to climb up and show solidarity with the youth. Entire bar comes forward to defend one accuse in courts. A history is created. Artists come and inject courage to the youth. 

‘One country’ failed by Ganasaara is found in GGG. Those who visit GGG get elated, excited, hopeful, enthusiastic and show gratitude to their younger generation. The untold message in GGG is that we all have failed the country and its future generations during past 74 years. Who visit GGG, or peruse face book/social media would notice the presence of many types of visitors. Some are friends; some to show their solidarity; some to apologize for their failure; some for an outing; some to show the future to their siblings; some are observers; some are with their own agendas; some are spies; some for penance for going behind Rajapaksas. We, as senior citizens have a great responsibility to ensure that the youth at GGG would not fail as we did and let them learn from our failures.

Civil security and armed forces would not join but their family members are at GGG. While the steam of GGG would rise the patience of the Government would run out

GGG residents are firmly settled down in front of Presidential Secretariat while the President is firmly settled down to stay on. Youth would intensify their peaceful struggle with the backing of more and more students, trade unions, other protesters and professionals demanding their basic utilities. 

Civil security and armed forces would not join but their family members are at GGG. While the steam of GGG would rise the patience of the Government would run out. Likely outcome is a clash. It will not produce any benefit to either party. Accidents by design or by default can happen. That would lead to violence. Everyone and the entire country would lose. 

Continuation of the struggle however peaceful it is will be encroached by unruly elements leading to violence and atrocities. All crimes will be accounted upon 
GGG residents. 

Admitting blunders
GGG is not in vein. For the first time the President who claims to be the man who did best publicly acknowledged that he erred. He admitted that the people’s cry is reasonable. He reshuffled and replaced the Cabinet of old rouges with younger ones.   He tweeted “I appeal & urge people to remain calm & stop violence & acts of revenge against citizens, irrespective of political affiliations. All efforts will be made to restore political stability through consensus, within constitutional mandate & to resolve economic crisis.” 

He first sacrificed four Rajapaksa and sacrificed his elder brother PM Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the vote winning machine at elections. He is reported to be considering forming an all party interim Government headed by apolitical Prime Minister. He has not made even a small hint that he would step down. According to the Constitution he must either resign or impeached. Neither is }
likely to happen. 

What is the way out?
Various organizations and individuals have made proposals for seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. In terms of the constitution until someone can prove that the incumbent president is insane and not in a fitting condition to govern the country or passing an impeachment motion President 
can remain. 

With a divided Opposition, impeachment is out of the question. The only option left is reconciliation; reaching consensus. Various proposals have come and are under consideration for an interim Government or all party Government. But would such a government represent 
the sentiments of GGG? 

I believe rather than an interim Government of current elected members to establish an arrangement for interim governance. Leave apart President who is adamant. A Cabinet headed by a saner non partisan Prime Minister with a few seniors of the Government and the opposition need to invite representatives of GGG and other professional bodies. They can form an interim arrangement. This can pave the way for the ‘System Change’ that the youth demands. 

We as senior citizens, scholars, professionals and those who burned their fingers and fallen into the well both during day and at night and belonged to the failed generations have to be sensible, patient and matured enough to prevent from diverting the exemplary unprecedented peaceful mission of our youngsters whose silence is much louder than our noisy words. We have to protect the vigour displayed by the youth; we have to ensure defending and protecting the victory gained by the youth so far; we have to nourish the unity and the bond built up by our youth among different races, communities and religions. 

Youth have already achieved a multiple gains with their peaceful struggle. Youth have created a new culture; established settlements; laid a solid foundation to build the nation to be at par with the rest of the world. They have shown a new path. They made several gains we have failed for good 74 years within a month. 

Youth as partners of nation building
We must get the youth involved prominently as partners of the nation building with a system change. If we do not take the advantage of what was gained by the GGG we might be the losers. We have to be patient and compromise with what is gained and use that strength in nation building before some hidden selfish elements use the opportunity to make another failed attempt of the youth. 

Finally when I look at the whole episode of GGG, its young occupants and what was achieved with silence and determination in the most peaceful manner, reminds what my brother told me once. He said Ayye, there is a 20 percent rule. Once you have achieved 80 percent you must be contained; by trying to achieve the balance 20 percent you would 
lose everything. 

When we look at the incidents taking place i.e. shooting an innocent resident to death in Rambukkana, attack on GGG by the goons, several deaths, violent behavior of some unruly elements, creeping unwanted elements, atrocities, deaths, and declaration of emergency, curfew, and the authority given to military to shoot those who behave violently are not welcoming signs. 

Mahanayakas who were silently accepting the tray full of fruits from anyone who visits have broken the silence and issued a statement condemning the regime response. Religious leaders have come on to a single platform. Muslims offered Dane on the Ramazan day to Sangha with the presence of catholic clergy. These were not seen by us even in a dream. But, happening in real life bringing smiles on all faces. Why don’t we get the GGG youth involved in the interim arrangement as key players and go for a system change. 

Questions to ponder
I leave a few questions for you to ponder. Are the emergency and the curfew declared to protect GGG youth and their sentiments? Has the military been authorized to shoot to protect GGG youth? Are the protection, safe travel and stay provided to Rajapaksa family to prevent goons’ attack on GGG? Has the police arrested a few youth identified for attacking a DIG within hours and still looking for culprits behind the attack on GGG for fond of youth? Are the leadership and politicians happily watching their hard earned money, assets and jewelry being burned to ashes? Have the Military and defence authorities addressed the youth with such sweet dearly words to say Duwe! Puthe! Continue with your ‘Aragalaya’ to protect them and their aragalaya? Finally protesters surrounded Trinco Navy Base pleads navy to assist. Aren’t we unknowingly seeking military assistance to achieve the task?  
This is not the time to test or repeat solutions found in theory; nor the experience of other countries. But, need a lot of common sense.
(The writer has served as a Ministry Secretary. He is Vice President of Sri Lanka Economic Association. He can be reached via [email protected])